Why Does My Bulging Leg Vein Hurt?
You have a leg vein that’s not only bulging in an unsightly way, it’s also a source of discomfort, if not downright pain. Painful varicose veins are not uncommon, and we get into why this complication can develop.
Do Spider Veins Fade Away Over Time?
Telangiectasias — that’s the medical term for those purple and red spindly veins on your legs that have created a most unwelcome web on your once blemish-free skin.
The good news is that spider veins, which affect half of women, aren’t generally cause for concern and pose a mostly cosmetic challenge. The bad news is that if you’re hoping they’ll fade away with time, we suggest you don’t hold your breath for that outcome.
Here at Upper East Cardiology and The Vein Institute, Dr. Satjit Bhusri and our team provide the most technologically and medically advanced solutions for patients who want to rid their legs of unsightly varicose veins and spider veins.
Since we specialize in problematic veins, as well as more serious cardiovascular issues, we know our way around issues like spider veins, and we can tell you that once they form, they’re not going to go away on their own.
What might have led to your spider veins
If you’re wondering where your spider veins came from, the answer is complex. There are several factors that can lead to spider veins, such as:
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)
This condition affects up to 35% of adults in the United States and is characterized by weakened valves in the veins of your legs. When these valves don’t close properly, blood can flow backward, engorge a superficial vein, and cause it to rise to the surface.
Hormone changes
The reason women develop spider veins far more than men is due to estrogen hormones. These hormones contribute to blood vessel health, so when you have fluctuations in your hormone levels, it can lead to leg vein issues like spider and varicose veins.
While CVI and hormones are the leading drivers of spider veins, we also attribute them to heredity, having obesity, and trauma to your leg,
The point we want to make is that no matter what caused your spider veins, once they form, they don’t usually go away on their own or fade away with time.
How we can get rid of your spider veins
Just because spider veins don’t clear up on their own, it doesn’t mean you don’t have effective solutions. As we mentioned, The Vein Institute is equipped with the latest vein removal technologies and treatments which include intense-pulsed light (IPL) laser therapy.
Our IPL laser can make quick work of surface issues like spider veins, quickly breaking them apart, at which point your body absorbs the remnants. This technology is so successful that there were nearly 3 million IPL treatments across the US in 2022 alone, for spider veins, as well as tattoo and body hair removal.
If you’d like to see for yourself how quickly and easily we can remove spider veins from your legs, we invite you to contact our New York City office on the Upper East Side of Manhattan to set up an appointment. You can also call us at (212) 752-3464.
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